key growing information

Edible Purslane: Key Growing Information

How to grow purslane: frost sensitivity, direct sowing for baby leaf or full size, transplants, cut-and-come-again harvest and seed counts.

By Hensley’s Seed Co. September 3, 2026

Purslane - Key Growing Information

A close-up of purslane plants; the leaves of this succulent, sprawling, annual herb are juicy, tangy, and eaten raw in salads.

SCIENTIFIC NAME:

Portulaca oleracea sativa

CULTURE:

Purslane can't handle hard frost, so plant it after the last frost. DIRECT SEEDING: For baby leaf, sow 1–2 seeds per inch in rows 2" or more apart. For full-size plants, sow ¼" deep about ½" apart and thin to 4–6".

TRANSPLANTING:

In mid-spring, sow 3–4 seeds per 1" cell or pot under 1/8" of soil, thinning to 2 plants per cell. After the last frost, plant out about 8" apart, taking care not to damage the roots.

HARVEST:

Cut as needed down to about 2" from the base; new stems and leaves keep regrowing for several weeks.

DISEASE:

Rotate crops and keep things clean to prevent disease.

SEED SPECS:

SEEDS/OZ.: about 63,900 on average.

PACKET:

500 seeds per packet, enough for about 20'.